Safety-based efficiency evaluation of construction sites using data envelopment analysis (DEA)

Identifying efficient construction sites in terms of safety is a challenge that must be addressed while assessing and evaluating performance criteria. This paper presents a method for a comparative and relative analysis of construction sites in terms of their safety performance. The proposed method employs Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method for identifying efficiency of construction sites, also known as decision-making units (DMU's). Safety climate factors and number of incidents are respectively used as inputs and output of the DEA system. Four various scenarios are identified and analyzed, and results are compared to evaluate efficient construction sites. Results show that the number of incidents incurred at construction sites, which is the output of the DEA framework, is the dominant factor correlating with the efficiency of construction sites. Moreover, specific safety climate factors are investigated to examine their impact on the efficiency calculated. Some key observations that all comply with practical expectations are also reported.